Do Not Keep Things in Your Heart

The Burden of Worldly Attachments

In the course of our daily lives, we are often weighed down by the heavy burdens of the material world. Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju reminds us that we must be vigilant about what we allow to take root within our hearts. The following worldly pursuits are not the focus of a true practitioner's life:

• Wealth: The endless pursuit of material gain.
• Fame: The desire for recognition and status.
• Position: The craving for social standing.
• Power: The urge to control or influence others.

If you allow these things to occupy your heart, they become heavy anchors that impede your spiritual progress. They are not meant to be the focus of your practice, for they only serve to distract you from your true nature.

Guarding the Six Roots

We must also be mindful of the negative influences that enter through our senses. When you encounter the following, you should learn to close your eyes and cover your ears, choosing not to see, not to listen, and most importantly, not to let them linger in your heart:

• Comparison: The tendency to measure yourself against others.
• Selfishness: The narrow focus on one's own desires.
• Jealousy: The resentment of another's success.
• Anger: The burning fire of resentment and rage.
• Conflict: The endless cycle of judging who is right or wrong.

Whether it is a person, an event, or an object, if you keep these things in your heart, they become obstacles. They create karmic obstructions that block your path to awakening. You must learn to protect your Six Roots from these disturbances, ensuring that your inner sanctuary remains undisturbed by the chaos of the outside world.

The Art of Lifting Up and Letting Go

True practice is the art of balance. You must learn to lift up and put down. When a task is at hand, you must lift it up—engage with it fully and responsibly. However, once the task is complete, you must put it down immediately. Do not let it remain in your heart.

When you receive sincere, well-intentioned advice or guidance, you should accept it immediately and make the necessary changes. However, you must be careful not to let biased, incorrect, or malicious thoughts take hold. Allowing negative intentions or the obsession with gain and loss to dwell within you is the greatest danger to your practice.

The Clarity of a Pure Heart

When your heart is pure, it becomes like an empty vessel—vast and clear. In this state, you do not keep any worldly matters within you, yet you remain perfectly aware of all people, events, and things. This is the hallmark of an awakened being. You see everything with absolute clarity, yet you are not attached to anything. This is the state of true freedom. By maintaining this purity, you ensure that your heart remains a reflection of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Continue to chant Namo Amituofo, and let your heart be as clear as the morning sky, unburdened and free.

Namo Amituofo